The Capitals should be buyers at the NHL trade deadline and should make a serious offer for Elias Pettersson from the Canucks.

The Capitals should be in on Elias Pettersson amid trade rumors and be willing to send top propsect Ryan Leonard the other way.

Selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (No. 46) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Sprong has 164 points (87 goals, 77 assists) in 363 regular-season games for the Kraken, Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Penguins.

Pettersson is the pie-in-the-sky acquisition. The Canucks, one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season, have a fractured locker room due to a schism between Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that a deal was close involving Miller but ultimately wasn’t finalized.

The Montreal Canadiens announced Patrik Laine will not travel for Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals. Laine is out due to illness and will miss his fourth straight game.

Pettersson scored a goal on three shots in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres. Pettersson ended his five-game goal drought, which covered all the time since he returned from an undisclosed injury. He had just one assist in that span.

WASHINGTON — Canucks centre Elias Pettersson wasn't back on the ice when Vancouver met the Capitals in Washington on Wednesday, but another major player returned to the lineup.

Might it be a Stanley Cup Final preview in Edmonton on Tuesday? The Oilers will host the Washington Capitals, who own the NHL’s best record at 31-20-5.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin addressed the ongoing struggles of Elias Pettersson during a press conference on Monday, striking a balance between critique and support for the star forward.

by STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer TOPICS: WASHINGTON (AP ... Canucks: Playing still without injured center Elias Pettersson, they were better defensively than in their last game but could ...

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin says he’s open to making a trade — as long as the deal makes sense for the team.

The past four weeks have not gone well for the Vancouver Canucks, from J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson being at odds with each other to their 2-5-3 record in their previous 10 games, including a terrible performance on Jan.